MLB legend Fritz Peterson, who was famous for swapping wives with teammate Mike Kekich, has died at the age of 82.
The former New York Yankees pitcher Peterson had admitted in an interview that the wife swap “wasn’t anything dirty.”
The former Yankees pitcher Peterson was a 1970 All-Star.
He won 109 games for the Yankees as the franchise mourned the death of Fritz.
“The Yankees are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Fritz Peterson, who was a formidable pitcher and affable presence throughout his nine years in pinstripes. Along with longtime teammate Mel Stottlemyre, Peterson was part of a devastating one-two combination at the top of the Yankees’ rotation,” the Yankees said in a statement.
Peterson had overcome prostate cancer and told The Post in 2017 that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
The MLB icon received plenty of fame for his off-the-field life.
Peterson was part of a trade, but not one of the MLB variety.
In March of 1973, the Yankees pitcher Peterson and his wife Marilyn swapped their spouses officially with Yankees pitcher Kekich and his wife, Susanne.
It was revealed that Peterson and his wife Marilyn as well as Kekich and his wife Susanne went to a party at the home of NY Post writer Maury in July of 1972.
“We did that and we had so much fun together, Susanne and I and Mike and Marilyn, that we decided, ‘Hey, this is fun, let’s do it again,’” Peterson said to the Palm Beach Post in 2013.
“We did it the next night. We went out to the Steak and Ale in Fort Lee. Mike and Marilyn left early and Susanne and I stayed and had a few drinks and ate.”
Peterson then said that “eventually [Kekich] fell in love with my wife and I fell in love with his.”
The rest would be history as the Yankees players held separate press conference to announce they swapped wives, kids as well as their dogs.
Peterson did set the record straight that the swap “wasn’t anything dirty.”
“Actually, it was a husband trade — Mike for me or me for Mike,” Peterson said.
“It’s a love story. It wasn’t anything dirty.”
Fortunately for Peterson, him and his wife Susanne got married in 1974.
His teammate Kekich, however, and ex-wife never wed and broke up shortly after.
Peterson would go on to be traded to Cleveland ahead of the 1974 season.
He last pitched for the Texas Rangers in the 1976 campaign.
Peterson finished his career with a 133-131 record with a 3.30 ERA.